loverofeels's review against another edition
3.0
it was lovely seeing the clear influence this had on jeanne birdsall's <i>the penderwicks</i>. a charming story at first, though i eventually found it a bit repetitive and the characters less well-distinguished than, say, those in <i>little women</i>. the interactions between the children and the lamb are very sweet, though.
for the purposes of deciding whether this should be given to children today: i didn't find that the entertainment value outweighed the prejudices demonstrated within the novel. a few of these show up through throw-away lines that could theoretically be cut or explained, but there is an entire chapter premised around indigenous people as violent and uncivilized.
for the purposes of deciding whether this should be given to children today: i didn't find that the entertainment value outweighed the prejudices demonstrated within the novel. a few of these show up through throw-away lines that could theoretically be cut or explained, but there is an entire chapter premised around indigenous people as violent and uncivilized.
storymi's review against another edition
3.0
Gewoon een leuk kinderboek (uit 1902!). Ik kreeg er de Narnia-feels van en dat bleek te kloppen: achterin stond vermeld dat onder andere C.S. Lewis fan was van deze auteur. Aanrader voor een nostalgische bui.
+:
- Die Narnia-heimwee dus.
- De hoofdpersonen zijn niet te braaf, maar lijken op echte kinderen
- Een boek dat de fantasie van kinderen prikkelt: 'Stel je voor dat je alles mocht wensen!' En hoe kan je die wens dan zo formuleren, dat er echt gebeurt wat jij had gewenst (wat in het boek regelmatig mis gaat). Ik denk dat je er leuke lees-lessen aan kan koppelen op de basisschool.
-:
- Ik weet niet of het echt een minpunt is, maar net zoals bij Narnia merk je soms dat het gedateerd is. Zo zou de beschrijving van Roma en indianen, in deze tijd wel wat anders geformuleerd worden. Toch vond ik het boek verder nog verrassend bij de tijd lezen.
- Op een gegeven moment werd heel groot vertaald als XXL. Dat voelde een beetje gek in dit verder nostalgische boek.
- De kinderen/het verhaal maakt niet echt een ontwikkeling door. Er gaat veel mis in het boek, doordat de kinderen de wensen verkeerd formuleren naar de knorrige zandfee (de wensvervuller), maar.. ze gaan niet écht beter nadenken over hun wensen in het boek. Ze wensen en klunzen gewoon gezellig door.
+:
- Die Narnia-heimwee dus.
- De hoofdpersonen zijn niet te braaf, maar lijken op echte kinderen
- Een boek dat de fantasie van kinderen prikkelt: 'Stel je voor dat je alles mocht wensen!' En hoe kan je die wens dan zo formuleren, dat er echt gebeurt wat jij had gewenst (wat in het boek regelmatig mis gaat). Ik denk dat je er leuke lees-lessen aan kan koppelen op de basisschool.
-:
- Ik weet niet of het echt een minpunt is, maar net zoals bij Narnia merk je soms dat het gedateerd is. Zo zou de beschrijving van Roma en indianen, in deze tijd wel wat anders geformuleerd worden. Toch vond ik het boek verder nog verrassend bij de tijd lezen.
- Op een gegeven moment werd heel groot vertaald als XXL. Dat voelde een beetje gek in dit verder nostalgische boek.
- De kinderen/het verhaal maakt niet echt een ontwikkeling door. Er gaat veel mis in het boek, doordat de kinderen de wensen verkeerd formuleren naar de knorrige zandfee (de wensvervuller), maar.. ze gaan niet écht beter nadenken over hun wensen in het boek. Ze wensen en klunzen gewoon gezellig door.
bzzzzzz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
xxertz's review against another edition
2.0
This didn't do much for me. It is a cute story about four kids who find a creature that grants them wishes. Each wish become their own sort of disaster and the kids hve to tough it out until sunset when the power of the wish is removed.
To be fair, I dont do well with older books or books aimed at children. The book was first published in 1902 and has a story that can mostly relate to today (some words I havent heard before), but, when narrated by younger kids, theres only so much depth you can get into. I know, reader flaw not book flaw.
To be fair, I dont do well with older books or books aimed at children. The book was first published in 1902 and has a story that can mostly relate to today (some words I havent heard before), but, when narrated by younger kids, theres only so much depth you can get into. I know, reader flaw not book flaw.
mimima's review against another edition
2.75
I didn't read as a child so there was no nostalgia factor. Once I realized that this didn't work for me, the dated descriptions of Native Americans and Romani made it even worse. Probably a bit lower than 3 full stars, more like 2.75
dyerra's review against another edition
4.0
This book was delightful. I'm not sure how it came to my attention, it's been on my to read list for a while. And even though I'm an adult and this is a book written for children, I fully enjoyed embracing my inner child and listening to it. Sometimes it's just nice to listen to a fun story without adult worries and drama.
Being that this book was written in the early 1900s, there were some problematic parts. A lot of things about boys vs girls, and then the entire chapter "scalps" was pretty awful. If I read this book to a child I would skip that chapter entirely and then do some counter education around the gender related commentary.
The whole moral of this book is "be careful what you wish for" but the wishes and their consequences were very silly and enjoyable.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of children's fantasy or anyone who wants a light read.
Being that this book was written in the early 1900s, there were some problematic parts. A lot of things about boys vs girls, and then the entire chapter "scalps" was pretty awful. If I read this book to a child I would skip that chapter entirely and then do some counter education around the gender related commentary.
The whole moral of this book is "be careful what you wish for" but the wishes and their consequences were very silly and enjoyable.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of children's fantasy or anyone who wants a light read.
griffinthief's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
becky_hubbard's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
helenfromalex's review against another edition
2.0
I completely understand the appeal of this book & its influence on children's literature. And as a read-aloud, it lent itself to interesting discussions, from the obvious topic of what we would wish for, but also the impact of class prejudice, gender bias & casual racism that occurs throughout. Whilst the latter may be indicative of attitudes at the time of publication, read on its merits in a contemporary setting, it was nonetheless difficult to look beyond at times.